Beastie Boys Book

By Michael Diamond & Adam Horovitz

Description

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A panoramic experience that tells the story of Beastie Boys, a book as unique as the band itself—by band members ADROCK and Mike D, with contributions from Amy Poehler, Colson Whitehead, Spike Jonze, Wes Anderson, Luc Sante, and more.

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY Rolling Stone • The Guardian • Paste

Formed as a New York City hardcore band in 1981, Beastie Boys struck an unlikely path to global hip hop superstardom. Here is their story, told for the first time in the words of the band. Adam “ADROCK” Horovitz and Michael “Mike D” Diamond offer revealing and very funny accounts of their transition from teenage punks to budding rappers; their early collaboration with Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin; the debut album that became the first hip hop record ever to hit #1, Licensed to Ill—and the album’s messy fallout as the band broke with Def Jam; their move to Los Angeles and rebirth with the genre-defying masterpiece Paul’s Boutique; their evolution as musicians and social activists over the course of the classic albums Check Your Head, Ill Communication, and Hello Nasty and the Tibetan Freedom Concert benefits conceived by the late Adam “MCA” Yauch; and more. For more than thirty years, this band has had an inescapable and indelible influence on popular culture.

With a style as distinctive and eclectic as a Beastie Boys album, Beastie Boys Book upends the typical music memoir. Alongside the band narrative you will find rare photos, original illustrations, a cookbook by chef Roy Choi, a graphic novel, a map of Beastie Boys’ New York, mixtape playlists, pieces by guest contributors, and many more surprises.Praise for Beastie Boys Book

“A fascinating, generous book with portraits and detail that float by in bursts of color . . . As with [the band’s] records, the book’s structure is a lyrical three-man weave. . . . Diamond’s voice is lapidary, droll. Horovitz comes on like a borscht belt comedian, but beneath that he is urgent, incredulous, kind of vulnerable. . . . Friendship is the book’s subject as much as music, fame and New York.”—The New York Times Book Review

“As freewheeling and funny as their albums . . . a beautifully messy (and large) talisman containing within it many of the great joys and surprises that come with listening to the Beastie Boys”—The AV Club

Reviews

B-Boys Makin' w/ the Book Book

5

By Royce V

its the best book that Adrock and Mike D ever wrote

Please release an audio book version!!!

5

By Whynotguy

I too have ordered multiple audio books about the B-Boy.
I first fell in love with y’all back when I was just a you g kid chilling in the driveway listing to the original license to I’ll album .. to date - I have EVERY ALBUM available on I tunes.
Previous books have taught me so much about originally being the you g aborigines and the. He true back ground of the work “Beastie” in Beastie Boys (Boys Entering Antichristic State Towards Internal Excellence)
I too would say that when you tour Salt Lake back in (I believe 1999/200) it was by far THE BEST, Hands down concert I have been to!!!
And learning through different other podcasts from The Echo Chamber (especially number 50) where a lot wAs explained about how the making of Paul’s boutique was formed and put together (another one of my favs that not many know of) at least word for word 😉
Y’all will forever be my top number one no matter how old I get!!!
When I first heard about this autobiography- honestly I was beyond excited!!!!
I truly hope that the two of you can produce it into a “book on tape” with my schedule, that seems to be the best way for me to truly enjoy the books; but what should even make it better for those life long B-Boys and B-Girls isn’t he world to unite?
If the two of you can actually narrate the book with the two of you or at least one (maybe spit chapters) but hearing your voices tell the stories about the group that made the hip hop world of New York and the 5 Boroughs to what has gone down in history as many loving followers like myself that truly love and will always love “The Beeeastieeee Boooooyyyys.... y’all know there playing in our homes!!!! 😉
God be with y’all and Adams Family forever.
From SLC, I send my love and positive prayers and thoughts to all of you and your families , friends and loving fans of “The Beastie Boys”.... Forever, y’all will continue to be my #1 group✊
Much respect.
Dave Workman
SLC, UT